Category: N
-
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and its phosphate (NAD, NADP)
The coenzymes derived from niacin. Involved as hydrogen acceptors in a wide variety of oxidation and reduction reactions.
-
Niacytin
The bound forms of the vitamin niacin, found in cereals.
-
Niacinogens
Name given to protein-niacin complexes found in cereals.
-
Neuropeptide Y
A peptide neurotransmitter believed to be important in the control of appetite and feeding behaviour, especially in response to leptin. One of the most abundant peptides found in the central and peripheral nervous system. Serves as a vasoconstrictor in conjunction with norepinephrine. It is released by the GI tract and signals hunger. It plays an…
-
Neural tube defect
Congenital malformations of the brain (anencephaly) or spinal cord (spina bifida) caused by the failure of the closure of the neural tube in early embryonic development. A congenital anomaly which occurs when the edges of the neural tube do not close up properly while the fetus develops in the uterus, e.g. spina bifida. Occurs early…
-
Net protein value (NPV)
Away of expressing the amount and quality of the protein in a food; the product of net protein utilisation and protein content per cent.
-
Net protein utilisation (NPU)
The proportion of nitrogen intake that is retained, i.e. the product of biological value and digestibility.
-
Net protein ratio/retention (NPR)
Weight gain of a test animal plus weight loss of a control animal fed a non-protein diet per gram of protein consumed by the test animal.
-
Net dietary protein energy ratio (NDpE)
A way of expressing the protein content of a diet or food taking into account both the amount of protein (relative to total energy intake) and the protein quality. It is protein energy multiplied by net protein utilisation divided by total energy. If energy is expressed in kcal and the result expressed as a percentage,…
-
Nature-identical
Term applied to food additives that are synthesised in the laboratory and are identical to those that occur in nature.